The Department is beginning a 30-day final review period to evaluate the Northern Leopard Frog and Mardon Skipper butterfly as state endangered species, and the Olympic Mudminnow for possible listing as state threatened species.

Status reports for the three species are available for review until November 30, 1999. The final recommendations will be presented to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission on December 10-11, 1999 in Vancouver.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission classifies species as endangered, threatened or sensitive using procedures defined in WAC 232-12-297. The procedures specific how listing or delisting will be initiated, criteria for listing and delisting, public review, and recovery and management of listed species. Listing or delisting of species is based solely on the biological status of the species. The purpose of the public review is to allow interested persons to submit new scientific information which applies to the status report and listing recommendation and to comment on the Department's interpretation of information. The species and listing recommendations are:

from State Candidate to State Endangered
from State Candidate to State Endangered
from State Candidate to State Sensitive

Copies of the final status reports for the northern leopard frog, mardon skipper, and Olympic mudminnow will be available for reading at public libraries, the Department's regional offices, the main Olympia headquarters, and in electronic format on the WDFW Website. Please provide your comments and information on the status reports and listing recommendations by November 30, 1999. Send e-mail comments to wildthing@dfw.wa.gov or mail written comments to: